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Inconsistencies abound in Twin Cities vax mandates
Prosecutors argued for shorter sentence in 2020 arson that killed a…
Home Crime/Public Safety Minneapolis man charged after waving sword, threatening to kill man in St....
Minneapolis man charged after waving sword, threatening to kill man in St. Anthony
Court records indicate that Judge Carolina A. Lamas ordered Abrahamson conditionally released with no bail required.
Crime Watch MN
Background: Surveillance footage from the August 13 incident (St. Anthony Police Department/Facebook). Left: Gene Willard Abrahamson/Hennepin County Jail
A northeast Minneapolis man has been charged with one count of felony threats of violence after authorities say he wielded a sword and threatened to kill a black man while also shouting racial slurs.
The criminal complaint against Gene Willard Abrahamson, 68, states that on Friday, August 13 at approximately 12:30 p.m., police were called to a disturbance in the parking lot of St. Anthony Village Wine & Spirits located on the 2700 block of County Road 88 in St. Anthony, Minnesota.
When police arrived, they spoke with a man who was with his girlfriend and young child. The victim told police that he was driving through the parking lot earlier when a pickup truck drove directly at him and stopped, blocking his way.
The driver of the pickup truck, later identified as Abrahamson, drove next to the victim and rolled down the window. Abrahamson then started calling the victim a "f–ing monkey" and other racial slurs while making monkey sounds. The victim told police he believed these were derogatory names because he is black, the complaint states.
Abrahamson then parked his vehicle, exited holding a sword and approached the victim outside in the parking lot. Abrahamson started waving the sword over his head and threatened to kill the victim while continuing to call him racial slurs. Abrahamson eventually left the parking lot.
Surveillance video posted Monday by St. Anthony PD showed part of the incident. In the video, Abrahamson's pickup truck can be seen driving toward the victim's vehicle. Abrahamson then parks and emerges from the vehicle with a sword in his hand.
Police said they received several 911 calls about the incident and took statements from witnesses and the victims when they arrived.
Police were able to identify Abrahamson through his license plate number, and the victim positively identified him through a photo lineup. Police could not immediately locate Abrahamson, so a warrant was issued for his arrest, which said that Abrahamson "poses a threat to public safety."
Abrahamson was arrested by St. Anthony police in the afternoon on August 18. Police stated that Abrahamson resisted arrest while being taken into custody and suffered a minor scratch. Abrahamson was booked into Hennepin County Jail after being treated by medical personnel, police said.
Abrahamson made his first court appearance on Thursday and was granted a public defender. Court records indicate that Judge Carolina A. Lamas ordered Abrahamson conditionally released with no bail required. Abrahamson was released from custody Thursday evening and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on September 13.
Court records show only a prior minor traffic citation for Abrahamson.
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
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BOISE, ID - The Tulsa Oilers (4-1-4) took to the road for the first time this season and suffered a 3-2 loss to the Idaho Steelheads (5-6-1) Wednesday at CenturyLink Arena. It was the Oilers' first defeat in regulation, snapping Tulsa's season-opening eight-game point streak.
The Steelheads gained an early lead when Joe Pendenza raced in on a breakaway and lifted a shot into the top of the net just 1:37 into the game. Spencer Naas gave Idaho a 2-0 lead at 5:24 of the first period when he skated in behind the Oilers net, before throwing the puck back out front, banking it off of Tulsa goaltender Devin Williams and in.
The Steelheads chased Williams from the net when Brady Norrish fooled the Oilers goaltender with a backhander from the left circle that bounced into the Tulsa to give Idaho a 3-0 lead shortly after an unsuccessful power play. Evan Fitzpatrick replaced Williams and stopped all 15 shots he faced the rest of the way.
The Oilers answered on a power play of their own, when Kyle Rhodes fired a wrist shot from the left circle over the glove of Idaho goaltender Colton Point to make it 3-1 before the second break.
Oilers veteran Peter Sivak cut Tulsa's deficit to one with a shot from the point that found its way through traffic and into the net to make it 3-2 with 7:20 left in the third period. But the Steelheads protected the lead to the final buzzer in handing the Oilers their first regulation loss of the season.
The Oilers and Steelheads face-off again Friday at 8:10pm CT at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Catch the action on The Sports Animal (99.9FM/1550AM), www.tulsaoilers.com, and ECHL.TV, with pregame coverage starting at 7:50pm CT.


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The Monster in the Wardrobe. Short animated story narrated in American English.
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There was once a boy who was afraid of the dark. He thought that when it was dark his bedroom filled up with monsters. But there came a time when he was too old to be allowed to keep sleeping with the light on.
That first night he was paralysed with fear, his mind full of monsters. So much so, that he went over to his wardrobe to get a torch. But when he opened the wardrobe door he came face to face with a monster, and he let out the loudest scream in the world.
The monster took a step backwards, grabbed its multicoloured hair with its tentacles and... started crying! The monster cried for so long that the boy's shock and fear subsided. He calmed the monster as much as he could, and started talking to him, asking him why he was crying, and what he was doing there.
The monster told him he lived in the wardrobe, but almost never went out, because he was afraid of the boy. When the boy asked him why, the monster told him the boy's face seemed to him the most horrible thing he'd ever seen with eyes, ears and a nose. The boy felt exactly the same way about the monster, who had an enormous head full of mouths and hair.
The two of them talked so much that they became quite friendly, and they realised that both of them had been afraid of the same thing: the unknown. To lose their fear all they had to do was get to know each other. Together they travelled the world, seeing lions, tigers, crocodiles, dragons... It was the first time either of them had seen such creatures, but they made the effort to get to know them, and ended up dispelling their fear, and becoming friends.
And, although his parents weren't too happy, because they thought he was too old to still believe in monsters, the truth of it was that all kinds of creatures visited the boy's bedroom each night. And, instead of fearing them he had learned to get to know them and befriend them.
Author.. Pedro Pablo Sacristán
Trouble in the Science Class
The Photographic Elephant
Batbird
The Magic Tree
The Pleaseometer
A short Christmas story about humility
A short story about tidiness and solidarity
A short story about care for environment
A story to teach the value of freedom
A short story about respect and care for things

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Not all bond amounts or bond conditions are fair to defendants. If you or a loved one faces such a circumstance, we have a long track record of successfully reducing bonds or changing bond conditions.
An individual's circumstances determine eligibility for bail or bond. However, many defendants are eligible. In fact, with few exceptions, the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions provide prisoners the right to bail before trial.
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Call our firm today for assistance in bail hearings, and for information about posting bail, a bail bondsman or other bail-related matters.
The holding facility will be able to tell you where you can post bond. Normally, it will be at the jail, although it may be at the court. There are facilities that will only take cash, while others may accept other forms of payment, such as certified funds or credit cards.
When providing a large amount of cash, the facility may hold the funds, but not technically apply them to the bond until the source of the funds is proven to be legal. Make sure to keep all records and receipts. The bond will usually not be returned until the case has been completed or ordered released by the court. The bond is returned to the person who posted it, though this could take several months.
When using a bondsman, it's important to remember they come in all shapes and sizes, and they all have a price tag. Normally, the bonding company's fee is ~7-10% of the required bond. And then there is also the collateral. Every bonding company has its own requirements. For example, they may require you to remain in contact with them a specific number of times each week. They may also require drug testing, employment verification, and/or the address of a residence they can visit.
The purpose of posting bond is to ensure a considerable financial penalty if the defendant fails to appear in court. The bond is essentially a promise to appear. If the defendant does fail to appear, it is in the court's power to forfeit all or part of the bond. If a bonding company paid on your behalf, they will be required to pay the rest of the bond. At that point, the bonding company will try to locate and return the person to the court in order to potentially recover their bond, or they may begin the legal process of seizing the collateral you provided.
If you have the ability to pay the entire bond, you should probably do so. You will save yourself the bonding company fee and having to put up collateral. However, it is important to consider that an experienced bondsman can expedite the process of posting bail. We have worked closely with bondsman Kermit Yearick (570-660-0780) for many years. He has a record of getting our clients out on bond as quickly as possible.
Keep in mind that once bail is posted, it still takes time for the person to be processed out of jail. So be patient, and make sure that all personal property is returned once the person is released. If a personal effect is missing or broken, file a claim immediately at the jail.


Compound nouns have been presented and briefly discussed in another Italian grammar page of level B2. The plural form of Italian compound nouns is sometimes tricky, because it's formation follows different rules according to the kind of words that make up the compound nouns. If fact il can be formed by verbs, adjectives, adverbs or other nouns.


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Known for garden squares and Regency architecture, Pimlico is well situated close to Victoria station. The largely leafy residential area has had an important role in Britain's political life thanks to its close proximity to Westminster Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Pimlico is also the base for the National Audit Office, which is housed in the old Imperial Airways Empire Terminal on Buckingham Palace Road.
The Art Moderne building was designed in 1938 and was used by passengers as well as mail and freight travelling by rail to the company's flying boats stationed in Southampton. The headquarters of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is also located in Pimlico at Eccleston Square. With the Chelsea College of Art and Design at the old Royal Army Medical College and the Tate Britain a short walk away, the area also has a rich cultural and fine art scene.
Most of Pimlico's businesses are based close to Victoria station. Businesses include restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops that support travellers using the rail station as well as workers in nearby Victoria Street, which is home to the Metropolitan Police's headquarters at New Scotland Yard, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and other offices. Office spaces are also found along Vauxhall Bridge Road, Wilton Road, Buckingham Palace Road, and other roads within the northern tip of Pimlico.
Office buildings in the area include Minister House at 272-274 Vauxhall Bridge Road. Further south along Vauxhall Bridge Road at Number 20 is the Penguin Random House offices for Cornerstone Publishing, Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing.
Pimlico is a largely residential district in Central London. The quiet neighbourhood's elegant streetscape is known for its grand terraced houses, brick townhouses and white stucco facades. Many of the buildings found in the area are fine examples of the Regency architectural style. Mixed in with Pimlico's residential areas are churches, garden squares, galleries and cafes that are often overlooked in favour of other parts of Central London. Pimlico sits within the City of Westminster.
The small, well-planned area was laid out by Thomas Cubitt in 1825 as demand for land for development grew following the Great Plague and Great Fire. At the time, land in the area was largely marsh that was being reclaimed with soil from the construction of the St. Katharine Docks. Over the years, Pimlico was the home of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, former French President Charles De Gaulle, actors Laurence Olivier and Rhys Ifans, authors Aubrey Beardsley and Bram Stoker, designer Laura Ashley, and other notable individuals. Attractions include Dolphin Square and Churchill Gardens, as well as several churches including St. Gabriel's, St. Saviour, St. Peter's Eaton Square and St. James the Less. Although the Tate Britain is sometimes considered part of Pimlico, it is actually in Millbank.


They say that Talin is a master of hourglasses. Small children are told what he can do with those, how he will steal one's day and one's dreams, put them in his hourglasses and leave only sand behind. I always thought those stories were just stories.
But Talin really does exist. He is a man. The story about the hourglasses though is also true.
I will start at the beginning. I will start with those events that led to me meeting him, how I first left my village in the mountains and never truly returned.
It was a hot summer in our village, too hot to sleep. I was sitting cross-legged on our wooden porch, trying as best I could to make the heat more bearable by forcing a small breeze of air into my face with a sunset-red fan.
Father came to join me and sat down next to me. He did not seem overly bothered by the heat. Indeed, I have never seen Father bothered by anything.
It was the way the older people in the village always spoke. I am not at all sure that I really understand quite why they do so.
My father presented me with a short knife that same evening. It was held by an intricate sheath bearing the scarlet colors of our family. Such knives were what set our tribe apart from outsiders. Everyone in the village over a certain age and with a certain standing wore one, and I was so proud that evening to have earned my own and to be going with Father.
So that summer, I was to visit the City of Lakes and assist my father in his work. We would make and sell our masks for the Festival of Living Faces, a festival of merriment and colorful masks that lasts an entire week. I had learned mask-making from my father: lions and griffins, villains with angry brows and death masks for maidens taken from life before they ever tasted it in the full. I enjoyed getting to know the soft wood with my hands and working it with my tools before giving life with colors and paint.
We traveled roughly three weeks to get to the City, traveled through the lush mountain valleys and along rivers that whistled with purling voices as they made their way to the ocean. While traveling, people would often stop us when they saw our masks. They would always buy some, and slowly, I began to realize just how uniquely talented my father was, and how much appreciation outsiders had for his work. I found this very strange, because such thoughts had never really occurred to me; he was just Father to me, strict when teaching me the trade, and always urging me to strive for perfection.
The City of Lakes was a place of countless wonders. When we finally arrived, night was falling and as we approached, I could watch the lanterns coming alive one by one. I later learned that there's a rule in the City that a house must light a lantern for every window it has. The lights thus came out of the dark like thousands of fireflies and in the space of perhaps five minutes, they made the City of Lakes seem ablaze with brightness, doubled even by the rippling mirror surfaces of the waters. I remember thinking that it all looked like a sparkling gem, dropped to earth by some fabulous god and then forgotten there like an errant comet or a lesser-loved moon.
The City of Lakes is named so for perhaps three hundred lakes of varying size and shape. Some of them are natural and some aren't, but today, nobody can quite tell the difference.
Houses and streets are built around the lakes like cobwebs, and although one might expect those structures to be too crowded or too worn out by time, they aren't. The streets were paved with rose granite from faraway mountaintops, and the houses were built from the same stone, adding a distinct shimmer of soft red to the city. Whoever designed and built the City did so with eternity in mind; it all fits together perfectly, as if the building process had been orchestrated by a conductor who understands the brittling potencies of time and knows just how to escape them unscathed.
We stayed at an inn, and I learned that my father was quite an honored and distinguished guest there.
For several days after our arrival, we received costumers who ordered their masks for the upcoming festival or bought one of the ready-made ones.
"Why Master Hotaru, do you remember the tiger mask you made for me last year? It was the talk of the entire guild, I can tell you, and this year cannot be anything less; I was thinking perhaps a wolf…" And so our clients were prattling on as I took their measurements and my father was writing down their orders with brush and black ink.
I do not think that they asked for prices even once; it seemed they were willing to pay just about any amount for a mask made by Master Hotaru, a mask that fit like a glove and captured the soul of the thing it represented like a mousetrap. That was how Father had always taught me to make my masks.
On several occasions, Father would ask the client whether it would be acceptable that I carve the mask for them. Of course, if the honorable client was not satisfied with the result, Master Hotaru would make a replacement. Some agreed. One of those clients was a merchant's ten-year-old daughter.
"I want my mask to show Talin!" she said to me as I was just taking the first measurement, forehead to chin.
"But I want the dreameater Talin!" the girl yelled, adamant as only children spoilt by the wealth of their parents can be.
"Well, Master Hotaru, a Talin mask it is then. I trust that will not be a problem?" the merchant asked, throwing a sideways glance at me as I was taking another measurement, width of chin.
"No, not at all," Father simply said. He had a way of little words around outsiders.
When all the clients for that day were gone, I sat down by the open window, enjoying the cool breeze that drifted into the room and bore the scent of lake-water on its wings.
"And how am I supposed to carve a mask of Talin?" I asked of Father, who was just laying out his own work.
I knew my father well enough to know that those were all the words he would lose on the matter.
I barely managed to stifle a sigh and sat down to work on some of my own masks. When I finally went to bed, a long while after midnight, I had captured a raven and a monk in the wood, but I still had no idea of how I could do the same with Talin.
My father must have sensed my unease, for the next morning, he sent me down into the City to explore, and he made me promise not to come back before nightfall. It was his way of telling me to take some time to think.
I watched how people were preparing their homes for the festival. They were cleaning their houses and the streets alike until both shone like marbles, they put fresh flower garlands everywhere, and there were even more lanterns to be lit at twilight. There was a general air of cheerfulness surrounding everyone. But the festival was not just for those who called the City of Lakes their home: people from far away had come here, traveling merchants and food vendors, actors, acrobats, and artists, and of course the merely curious.
At around noon, I found myself a little hungry despite the throbbing heat. I bought some roasted squid from a street vendor and sat down in the shade of an old chimera tree some ten feet off the shore of a smallish lake and ate quietly, still thinking about Talin. When my meal was finished, I found a lazy drowsiness take me into sleep's gentle arms. I would not find Talin's soul today anyway, so I figured it was all right to take a little nap.
I remember distinctly that I did not dream. Equally distinctly, I remember hearing his voice.
"It's just a little dream, just the softest, lightest feather image of a dream. You'll never even miss it, promise…" and there was a cold touch on my forehead as I woke with a start.
The sun had long set and the City was once more alive with light oozing from countless burning lanterns. In the palm of my left hand, there were some grains of sparkling white sand that almost looked like so many tiny pearls.
I don't remember really how I got back to the inn. I ran. When I entered our room, I was panting. Father was already carving, and I lost no time with words before I joined him, sitting cross-legged on the floor. I had collected the sand into a handkerchief, and that handkerchief I had put into my pocket. I got out my knives and a piece of wood. I knew I should possibly pay attention to the measurements I'd taken before, but I didn't. I knew I should be calm, go about my work with a distinct peace of mind, but I didn't. I couldn't. I knew Father was watching me as I carved, shavings giving way to shape, but I didn't care, it didn't bother me. I had to carve. I carved Talin. I had his soul, and I was holding on to it as if my life depended on it.
When I was done with the carving, I moved to the colors, bright silver, burning white and dark velvet blue. I mixed a bit of the sand from my handkerchief into each of them and began to paint. Under my brush, I gave the mere carving the last sliver of life that it needed to become a proper mask. When I was finished, I found that I was trembling, barely conscious.
Only the clapping of my father's hands brought me back to my senses. I had carved a mask of Talin, truly a mask of the forger of hourglasses. And it was a perfect piece.
It was so simple, but from his mouth, it meant the world.
"But our client…" I began.
"You can make another one. Not like this, but still a proper mask," Father simply said, and as he said it, I knew that he was right.
Here it could have ended. Here I could have said, I once captured the soul of Talin, the thief of dreams, but that would be too easy. Nothing is ever easy when the likes of Talin are concerned.
At first, I wanted to wear my Talin mask for the festival, but then I decided against it. I picked a simple white crane mask and wore that one. I am not entirely sure why.
That summer ended. The Festival of Living Faces was magnificent to behold, but it ended also.
I spent the fall and winter at home, carving, and although he never said it, I knew that Father was approving greatly of my progress.
I kept the Talin mask wrapped in soft cloth in a box in my room.
Spring came eventually and then summer, and soon as flowers bloomed and people's layers of clothing grew fewer, the time for the next Festival of Living Faces was approaching. The week before our departure, Father asked me to the village shrine. He and our village priestess were waiting for me.
"My daughter, you are no longer my apprentice," Father began, and the words came as a whiplash shock.
Had I done anything to give offense? Had I failed in some way?
And so, I returned to the City of Lakes as Master Tonba. I had brought the Talin mask along with me, because, I think, I was afraid to leave it alone for too long.
On my second visit to the City, I found the place no less impressive than the first time, but this time, I was better able to appreciate the tender beauty of everything around me, of the different smells and sounds and of the mindset of those people whom we just call outsiders.
We arrived early one evening and the lanterns were not yet lit. We were a few days later that year than the one before, something that I think my father had intentionally planned so that costumers would often have no choice but to turn to the new mask-maker.
The next few days were again so full of work that my mind could scarcely drift; after all, I did not wish to disgrace my father's good name, because even though I was a master myself now, I was still his student. I could feel the City only through the open window of my room in the inn, the crescendo bustling in preparation for the festival, the warm and strange smells of food and the soft water of the lakes, joyful shouting and laughter of the children and grown-ups.
The night before the festival began, I did not get any sleep at all. I still had to finish the mask of a kingfisher for a client. I set out to deliver it personally in the small hours of the morning when the lanterns were still burning and the first sun had not yet shown his face.
As it was considered bad manners to be out without a mask during the festival, however, I couldn't go with a bare face. Ironically, I had no finished masks apart from the kingfisher lying around, and I certainly couldn't wear the client's mask.
So, my only option was the Talin mask. I didn't really want to put it on, but I really had no choice. Thinking about the embarrassment of being a mask-maker without a mask, I took my Talin mask out of its box and put it onto my face. It was not a perfect fit, but close enough to be comfortable. I hurriedly wrapped my client's mask and was on my way.
As I arrived at the client's house, a servant girl opened the door for me. I saw the eyes behind her boar mask widen; she was speechless as I held out the wrapped mask for her master.
"It won't be a problem," the servant girl mumbled. She kept staring at me as I turned around to walk back to the inn.
That early in the day, the streets were mostly empty and, although I could feel exhaustion tingling in my bones, I enjoyed having all the time I wanted to take in the City around me.
"Would you like to buy an hourglass, my dear?" somebody said from very close behind my back and even as I turned, I drew my knife from its scarlet sheath, reflex and ingrained movement driving my actions more than sober thinking.
My blade connected the same moment I realized I knew the voice. He was fast enough to jump back, and so, I just nicked the mask he wore.
He smiled and traced the nick in his mask with a thumb.
He looked so much like the mask I had carved of him and then again, nothing like it at all. His hair was black, not silver, but it shimmered silver in the lantern light that was still gilding the City. He was thin and tall and wore the rich robes of old aristocracy, something that might have stood out on every other day, but not on the day of the festival where the normal tended in general to approach the extraordinary. In his right hand, he was holding an hourglass, intricately made; the glass itself was tinted a light rose color and framed by thin tendrils of silver that coiled around it like mist. Inside the glass, I could see no sand, just skittishly shifting mist.
To my shock, I found that the mask he was wearing, the mask my blade had nicked, was one of my own, one I had made for last year's festival! Behind it, I saw that his eyes were dark and hard.
"Wh-what do you want?" I asked of Talin who stole dreams and days and replaced them with sand. I still had my knife in hand, but it felt rather small and useless there.
My mind was racing, but alas, my tongue was faster.
"And how should I know that you are Talin?" I asked of him.
Now, behind a mask it's hard to tell, but I think he grinned, and that his grin tipped sideways into the sharp semblance of a leer, just two drops short of sinister.
"Oh, well. There aren't many who'd be as daring as you are. I do appreciate your nerve. Put your blade away, Master Tonba," Talin said.
Without quite knowing why, I did what he said. He nodded at the swirling noise my knife made as it was sheathed.
"Allow me to show you who I am. Let's go," he said, and with two quick steps, he was by my side and took my hand and, holding tight, he walked me out onto the closest lake, right onto the sparkling surface of the water that should not have carried either one of us.
"This way lies my home," Talin said, pointing to a dense mist that was gathering rapidly in the center of the lake.
Talin pulled me along with him and I found that I was unable to resist him. His touch was like the sweet lull of sleep approaching, of a dream not quite willing to depart.
Before I knew it, we were surrounded by the mists, swallowed as if by some primordial creature of the old stories and myths. Talin still had his mask on, but when I glanced sideways, I could feel his smile upon me like a net cast and hugging me with the deceptive tenderness of silk.
Again, I did as he told me to.
The mist was still so thick that I felt almost cornered, but I could see a little way into it. We were in some sort of wasteland, something not quite alive but surely not dead either. At first glance, I thought I was seeing a desert and some leafless trees growing in intervals by the wayside. However, in a desert, there would have been the sound of wind or no sound at all, and here there was a sound of whispering and of breath, taken slowly and expelled slower still. The trees were not motionless as proper trees should be, either. They moved, but not in a natural way, more like they felt the need to stretch their branches and their bark, to shift their tired roots incessantly.
The sight was strange, eerie.
"Is this the underworld?" I asked.
At this Talin began to laugh and his mask was humming with the sound.
I stopped in my tracks, my breath caught in my throat.
"But you are not. You steal the dreams. It doesn't matter if you make it sound like a fair trade, because it isn't," I said.
As his last word faded to silence, I saw a faint light in the distance, and with my curiosity kindled anew, I found my legs moving again and myself willing to be led by his hand that still held tightly to my own.
As we approached, the mists thinned before us. I could see a forge taking shape and finally detaching itself from the silvery mists as if it melted them.
I thought for a long moment.
"I think I rather wouldn't," I said.
"Wise choice. Perhaps I can enthrall you later. For now, consider the hourglasses," Talin said, pointing to what lay behind the forge.
Like ghost lights on a tempest-ridden sea, I saw something giving off pale and shifting light. There were lilacs and greens, pale yellows and bright blues and everything in between. As he led me that way, I finally could see his hourglasses. They were pieces of art, just like my masks, some bold, some tender, but all with a distinct personality, with a unique self.
Even as I watched, I was deeply moved by the honest perfection in each of the hourglasses.
"They are amazing," I told Talin.
I came closer. I could see the hourglasses strung up on trees just like the ones we had passed before. The threads that held them to the branches were fine, fine as a barely remembered dream. And the hourglasses themselves, they looked innocent, but as I came close enough to look into one, I felt something dark and lurking looking back through the shifting mist within.
My breath caught in my throat, and I jumped back. Under my mask I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
My hand was aching for my knife. "What do you do with the dreams?" I asked of Talin by way of distraction.
But Talin didn't answer that; he just smiled behind his mask. He then put his arm around my hip and spun me in a circle of flaring pale white mist.
I must have blinked, for when my eyes were clear of mist once more, I saw that we were again in the City of Lakes, standing right by a lake that was bathed in the scarlets and pinks of first sunrise.
He did not have to say or else. I knew that he meant that. Yet, while he was Talin, I was Master Tonba, Hotaru's daughter. I shook my head, remembering my father's words.
"I don't want it," I said, but I knew that I was lying. It was my dream, part of me, just like the mask.
The color of the sunrise was slowly diluted in the water of the little lake before us, and I felt Talin's eyes on me.
And Talin, the god, obeyed.
I gave him my Talin mask, and he gave me my dream and also the mask he had been wearing, the one that had caught my blade. While he put on his mask, I briefly saw the age and ambition that he kept only on the features of his real face.
The brilliant mist in the rosy, silver-wreathed hourglass was meanwhile floating up and down. It felt like it was pressing close and closer against the glass. It felt like it wanted out, wanted to be back in the world.
My dream was what kept it in check, controlled its desire, and while the festival lasted—dancers draped in layers of shimmering clothes moving like smoke in the streets, boats on the lakes laden with flowers, lanterns and laughing revelers going to and fro, masked faces wherever you looked—I would be holding on to this conflict, forged so perfectly in dream, painted so skillfully in mist. I would always try to feel my dream again in my heart until I changed it back for the soul-chip Talin mask.
When I finally came back to the inn at the end of the festival with the mask of Talin back in my hands, it was more like a century and not just this year's Festival of Living Faces had passed.
You have stolen from me, thief, I thought, the mask of him in my hands. I looked at it, and suddenly, I knew that it really showed just a man. I could see it in my work, and I could guess that this was why he had wanted the mask back to begin with. Talin, the divine, who was just a man.
I put the mask back into its box. The blade-kissed mask of the red bird that he had been wearing and that he had then exchanged with mine, I put into the box also.
While the color of the city faded from me like that dream, I wondered when I would or could no longer take his human face and wrap it in cloth for another year. Perhaps not next year or the one after that. But one day, I would claim my dream and give that god his human mask back.
Alexandra Seidel writes poems and stories of things born from imagination and dreams. Some of her work can be found in Liminality, Mirror Dance, Strange Horizons, and elsewhere. If you are so inclined you can follow Alexa on Twitter (@Alexa_Seidel).
Carol Wellart is a Czech artist and painter creating predominantly wildlife themes, nature studies, and literary characters. She's mostly inspired by the curious shapes and materials from nature, but literature is still the main source. Painting and drawing were always the most important things for her, and visiting the local art school helped her understand new techniques and the "science" of the colour mediums. Carol is the award-winning artist of the Best Book Cover in 2015 in Czechia. Her work has been published in magazines such as Spirituality & Health, International Wolf, and Orion.


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Ciclesonide nasal spray is a medication used for allergic or seasonal rhinitis that can be caused by pollen, animal fur or dandruff, dust, or general air pollution in your region. Rhinitis is manifested in nasal discharges, stuffy nose, itching in the eyes, sneezing, and so on after you contacted an allergen. The generic version of the medication we sell on this webpage is called Ciclospray. It has absolutely the same composition and is used in the same manner as the branded medication but is cheaper because it is less advertised. You can buy the medication for yourself or for a child but if a child is younger than six years you should consult a pediatrician beforehand. How to use the medication and how it acts you can find out from the article below.
What is the medication sold as Ciclesonide?
Ciclesonide is a substance used as a base for different medications. It is glucocorticosteroid used in a form of inhaler or nasal spray for the management of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Ciclesonide is a prodrug, i.e. it becomes effective only after a direct contact with the epithelial cells of the lungs. There it transforms into an active substance, which is highly similar to glucocorticosteroid receptors and is capable of forming inactive esters with fatty acids that serve as a medication depot in the cell. This property allows the medication to accumulate in the certain areas of the body and therefore render a prolonged effect.
At this webpage, you can buy Ciclesonide nasal spray that is used for allergic rhinitis or seasonal rhinitis. If you need the inhaler based on Ciclesonide to treat asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease, you need to check the Asthma section of our online pharmacy and order the inhaler there as this nasal spray has a lower dosage and acts a bit differently because it is another formulation.
The same medication is manufactured and produced by a number of pharmaceutical companies but the brand name is owned by a single company. Therefore, it the other versions of the medication cannot bear the same name. But you can easily find them if you look for a way to buy Ciclesonide spray.
What is Generic Ciclesonide spray? How is it different from the branded drug and why is it cheaper?
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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/news/vitae-news-2010-2015/scottish-funding-council-and-seven-uk-universities-gain-european-commission-recognition-for-researcher-development
You are here: Home / News / Vitae News 2010-2015 / Scottish Funding Council and seven UK universities gain European Commission recognition for researcher development
Vitae News 2019
Vitae News 2010-2015
Scottish Funding Council and seven UK universities gain European Commission recognition for researcher development
We are announcing today that Bangor University, City University London, Liverpool John Moores University, Oxford Brookes University, the School of Oriental and African Studies the University of London, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of St Andrews, and the University of Wolverhampton have achieved the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research Award. They join the 34 organisations across Europe to have gained the Award since 2010 and bring the UK total to 58.
To get this distinction, employers and funders of researchers have to demonstrate clear progress in how they attract, manage and develop research staff, which is part of a concordat to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK, and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.
Professor Trevor McMillan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for research at Lancaster University said on behalf of the UK panel which reviewed the submissions:
'I am delighted to be able to announce that a further eight organisations in the UK have gained the European HR Excellence in Research Award. The award acknowledges the commitment of these organisations to continual improvements in their support for researchers as part of the strategy to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of the research base in the UK'
Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, the first UK funding council to achieve the award said:
'We are delighted to join the ten Scottish institutions which have now received this award. We believe the HR Excellence process is hugely valuable in supporting both researcher employers and funders to improve researcher support and training. The high proportion of Scottish universities which have gained the award demonstrates Scotland's commitment to excellence in research. The innovative opportunities which Scottish institutions have pioneered, for example research pooling graduate schools, are a crucial part in developing the skills and employability of researchers. I am pleased that our work with Scottish universities to enhance these developmental opportunities has resulted in this award. Insert your block quote here '
Ellen Pearce, Director of Vitae and the UK representative on the European Commission HR Strategy Group said:
'Vitae are committed to enhancing the quality and output of the UK research base, through supporting the training and development of world-class researchers. We are delighted that a further eight UK organisations have gained international recognition for their commitment to developing research careers. However, there remain challenges in providing frameworks for career progression in competitive funding environments and we hope that the number of UK institutions with the Award will continue to grow in coming months'
A UK-wide process enables UK higher education institutions to gain the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research Award, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the HR Excellence in Research Award. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.
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Access a wealth of information that is only available to registered users, including:
Podcasts from the REF event and the Vitae Research Staff Conference 2012
Vitae Connections 2: Insights into Researcher Development - Horizon Scanning
Online training for researchers: South East member seminar 2018 and SERD forum
Vitae Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS): UK aggregated UK results 2009


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Audi R8 V10 5.2 S-Tronic Review
Colin Hubbard drives the Audi R8 V10
When the Audi R8 was launched in 2006 it was only available with the 4.2 litre V8 engine from the RS4. Now you can buy one with a 5.2 V10 borrowed from Audi's Italian cousins - Lamborghini.
The R8 is based on a Gallardo platform, with an aluminium monocoque and features a dry sumped V8 meaning it can be mounted lower down than a wet sump where the oil is stored underneath the motor. In a dry sumped car the oil is stored in a reservoir at the side which means the motor is never starved of oil under hard cornering. And cornering is the R8's party trick, being four wheel drive but with heavy rear bias. It can remain playful yet the powered front wheels always give that extra level of traction through the corners.
The V10 was launched in 2008 with the Gallardo derived 5.2 litre V10 engine which was re-tuned to produce 517bhp and 391 lb/ft of torque, presumably to put some distance between the howling mad supercar maker and the rather sensible luxury car company.
As the V10 engine is longer than the V8 it stretches out toward the cabin so there's less of a shelf behind the driver which alters the centre of gravity. Other differences are that the front and rear vents have less blades, the side scoops are more pronounced and open out to suck in more air and there are 2 large diameter exhaust outlets as opposed to the V8's 4 smaller circular outlets. Along with some Spider design alloy wheels and a standard fit Bang and Olufsen hifi that completes the V10 package.
Oh, and the world's first all-LED headlights.
I took a walk around the car to take in the proportions, shapes and details of this sensible supercar, which has always given me a warm feeling inside. The first thing that struck me is the height. It's a low car with only a few inches of ground clearance.
I wondered whether this will clear the speed bumps on the way out of the car park. The next is the side blades which I didn't really get the point of at first. I always thought that if I could muster up the money to buy an R8 I would have them painted in body colour, but in the flesh and in bare carbon they add some drama, some jewellery to the car and help disguise the longer rear section of the car where the engine is buried.
The glass engine cover is essential for a supercar so you and spectators can see where the money's gone and show off the heart of the beast. Buyers of the V10 get the best view with longer cam covers and silver grills at the side.
Front and rear views have very similar make up with large vents each side with the lights sitting on top. The front is low and snarly but the rear slightly more upright for a more aerodynamic and downforce influenced shape.
Something tells me Audi spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel perfecting the shape so the finished product didn't rely on external aero.
Yes there's no sticky-out spoilers or low splitters on the car, just a small pop-up rear fin and integrated aero leaving the attention grabbing to its psychotic Italian cousins. The front arches and rear haunches are creamy smooth with a ridge running from the front light, over the front arch, toward the top of the doors, over the rear arch and finishing at the outer edge of the rear light. It's a smooth operator, very calm and collected.
The colour is Sepang Blue Pearl and has a deep shine which looks great draped over the German curves complimenting the carbon side blades.
The angry looking wheels contrast with the smooth sleek lines of the body and are shod with 235/35ZR19 front and 295/30/ZR19 Continental rubber. Peeking through the spokes in the wheels are vented wavy discs and multi-piston black callipers with red R8 logos.
The door is opened with a handle close to the flared out side blades and makes a quality pop as it eases open. As you sit in the car you seem to drop further than expected, due to the seat height being equivalent to the sill height. It's a comfortable driving position and a quality, restrained cabin.
It doesn't shout supercar in here. Yes it's a fine place to be but it could have more drama and, having driven the rest of the Audi range, I know they can do better. To be fair it's coped admirably for 7 years without any facelifts but it's about time they injected a little charisma inside, especially with the info system which uses the older style double din size nav with integrated reversing camera screen.
The wheel is a familiar Audi unit with a flat bottom and features the usual thumb controls and high quality leather. The instruments are openly visible through the wheel and are clear and again fairly familiar Audi territory.
This car is equipped with a 7 speed S-Tronic transmission and as such doesn't have the lovely open gate manual selector but an auto selector with left for manually selected up/down and right for neutral and reverse - but it does have the same feelsome gear knob.
Start the engine with a proper key while noticing the high quality highly polished carbon fibre trim dotted around the cabin, in a bid to differentiate it from the lower model range. It starts with an excitable whizz and settles to a grumbly tickover.
Pulling away is a doddle. There's lots of power low down. Being an auto means you can't stall it and look like a complete pillock, which is by far the most embarrassing thing you can do in a grabbing supercar.
I was amazed how it glided over the speed bumps on the way out of the car park with such low clearance.
After a long run down a private lane (giving the engine a blip with the window down under a small bridge) and I came to my first junction. Visibility is great and forward view's better than my own TT as there's no engine out front and the pillars seem to be narrower.
A tight left turn and the front diff groans and twitches as I eased out onto the main road on full lock and take it easy at first as 517bhp powering 1,645 kilos takes some focus.
It rides very well on the all-round double wishbones and is a cinch to plod along in. My Nan could easily drive it if she were still here, although she couldn't be trusted with such a powerhouse.
Rear visibility is fine and the rear-view camera helps when parking but the rear three quarters are completely missing, obstructed by bodywork. I don't like to use the words van and supercar in the same sentence but they have comparable driver's views, only differing in height.
The first roundabout and I did a few laps to get a feel for the weight transfer and slow speed handling. It's a little wet but the car stays in line, the rear end wanting to push out. The placing of the engine and occupants inside the wheelbase means it has a weight distribution advantage over front engined cars. The front end is light, agile and pointy with no noticeable understeer.
I accelerated near flat out leaving the roundabout and it picks up exceptionally well, the four wheel drive traction and modest weight helping pour every horsepower onto the road. This time with more revs than before and the V10 made a proper, exotic noise - the 5 cylinders per bank slightly out of balance making a double warble exhaust note.
The 5.2 litre engine has direct fuel injection and variable valve timing so its peak power is developed at an astonishing 8,000 revs and red lines at just 500rpm more. It's mated to a twin clutch gearbox providing pretty much continuous forward motion.
Beyond 5,000 revs and the previously tractable engine gets so much more urgent and requires more attention to the process of driving, your responses require immediate attention.
The brakes are up to the task. They're steel disks and provide smooth modulation with strong stomping power, diminishing speed in a flash.
I played with various settings. The he first was a button marked with a damper which selects the magnetic suspension setting that runs a charge through the metal heavy fluid in the damper so its properties can be controlled by a computer. This firms the ride up - not unbearable but less pliant than before but as a benefit it grips the road so much better that they should have a picture of an Octopus on the button. It's not at all crashy and deals with bumps and compressions with sublime body control. It's just a case of point and squirt.
Next up I swallowed 2 brave pills and press the button marked Sport. This sharpens up the engine mapping, provides engine blipping on down changes, slackens off the ESP and automatically selects magnetic damping. It reacts instantly knocking the gearbox down a gear so the revs flare ready for action and it feels more urgent, more alive.
Pin the throttle on a long straight and it feels faster too. The noise is transformed into a dirty sound, the high pitched V10 clearing it's lungs whenever it has the opportunity. When slowing down the engine automatically blips the throttle to keep the revs up ready for instant acceleration. It's completely over the top. If you selected Sport in a built up area everyone would look at you.
Corners are taken with more aplomb as your reactions are heightened to the aggressive engine mapping and rev-flaring down-changes. When exiting corners the high power can sometimes completely overwhelm the ESP and power is aggressively dulled. Mostly though the chassis is playful and allows a little slip so you can enjoy the experience more.
The steering is well set up and provides plenty of feedback through the wheel via its hydraulic rack. The front tyres inform the driver exactly what they're up to.
Towards the end of the drive I turned off Sport mode to calm down as I felt mentally and physically tired after the experience. It saps your energy but gives you a buzz, a natural high like a supercar should. Even now, thinking back, it gives me goosebumps.
Park up and the exhausts tick tick away, the heat escaping from the metal.
The boot is a usable size and combined with the shelf behind the seats offers reasonable space for a weekend away - comparable to an F-Type. The glass engine cover is heavy but opens up to a lovely view of that V10 powerhouse, a purposeful looking engine not littered with pipes or turbos.
So, I have experienced the R8 and confirm it lives up to the hype. It's been tweaked over the years to keep up with the likes of Porsche and Lamborghini but stands on its own as an exotic daily driver.
Now that Audi has fully proven they can make a supercar with firm foundations they can afford to go a little wilder, that bit sexier. I hope that the next generation of R8 gets a more glamorous interior and a sharper, more dramatic body to compete with the likes of the Ferrari 458 and McLaren 12C and 650S.
The Audi R8, the sensible supercar in a striped suit (until you hit the Sport button then it goes completely mental!)
Price - £115,000 (£121,580 as tested)
Engine – 5.0 litre, V10, petrol
Transmission – 7 Speed S-Tronic
0-62mph – 3.6 seconds
Top speed - 195 mph
Power - 517bhp at 8,000rpm
Torque - 391lb ft between 6500rpm
Economy - 21.6mpg combined
CO2 - 305 g/km
Kerb weight - 1645kg unladen
Review by Colin Hubbard
Labels: Audi, Car review, Colin, Road tests, Sports cars reviewed


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Keith Urban Digs Nick Jonas" "Jealous"
Country Star Is All About That Pop
Former Jonas Brothers brother Nick Jonas has gone solo. And among his many, many fans is Keith Urban.
"We love 'Jealous,' the new Nick Jonas single," Urban told The Canadian Press. "Like, totally love that song. I think my wife turned me onto that one recently."
He and Jonas are part of the lineup for ET Canada's New Year's Eve bash, a free show at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
As a side note, Urban and Kidman are right to be obsessing over Jonas. The man can sing. Did you see him as Marius Pontmercy in Les Miserables in London? Me neither, but there's video of his performance.
So now you know where Urban will be Dec. 31. But what about his plans for the rest of the holidays?
"Really just a family Christmas, nice and quiet here at the house," he said. "Nic's mom is going to be joining us this year. My mom and dad were going to be flying in, but they had to change their plans, so I probably won't see them till January.
"But mostly it's just a nice, simple family Christmas. And then before you know it, we'll be landing at Niagara Falls on New Year's Eve for a slightly chilly show. I'm really looking forward to it."
Tags: Keith Urban


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Butler women's basketball falls to Georgetown at home
Whitney Jennings attacks the basket. Jennings made five 3-pointers and led the team with 19 points. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Lafakis.
CHRIS BROWN | STAFF REPORTER | cbbrown@butler.edu
The Butler University women's basketball team fell back to .500 in conference play with a 63-52 home loss to Georgetown University on Jan. 26. The Bulldogs are now 5-5 in Big East contests and 13-9 for the season.
Butler got off to a strong start to the game, going on a 6-0 run to begin the first quarter and outscoring Georgetown 20-11 in the first ten minutes of play. But the Hoyas responded in the second quarter, limiting the Bulldogs to six points while scoring 14 of their own.
Dawgs off to a good start with an 11-9 lead over the Hoyas. 4:59 to play in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/zXMCzjeBrZ
— Butler W Basketball (@ButlerUWBB) January 27, 2018
Butler committed five turnovers in the final five minutes of the first half, while Georgetown went on a 7-0 run to finish the first half and narrow the Bulldogs' lead to one point at halftime.
While the Bulldogs briefly regained the lead late in the third quarter, the Hoyas held the upper hand for the majority of the second half, outscoring Butler 38-26 in the final 20 minutes of action for the victory.
When Butler defeated Georgetown in the two teams' first matchup in early January, the Bulldogs held the Hoyas' top scorers to 12 and 11 points, respectively. In this game, though, Butler struggled to contain Dionna White and Mikayla Venson, who combined for 36 points.
"Last game, holding their best players to low [point totals] was huge," sophomore forward Shae Brey said. "In this game they were stepping up and hitting big shots and that hurt us in the long run."
The Bulldogs also committed 20 turnovers in the game, something redshirt junior guard Whitney Jennings said was a big problem for the team.
"You're not going to win too many ball games turning the ball over like that," Jennings said. "We definitely have to clean that up for [Sunday's game]."
Jennings led the team with 19 points, making five 3-pointers in the contest. Junior center Tori Schickel finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Kristen Spolyar tallied seven points and 10 rebounds.
Coach Godlevske following tonight's hard-fought battle against Georgetown + looking ahead to Sunday's home match-up vs. Villanova… pic.twitter.com/NWvbJrfptD
For the game, the Bulldogs outshot Georgetown from the field 38 to 34 percent. Butler also out-rebounded Georgetown 38-35, but the Hoyas led in steals 14-2.
The Bulldogs will look to get back on track against Villanova University at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sunday, Jan. 28. Butler upset the Wildcats on the road 76-53 in early January for their first conference win.
Follow Chris on Twitter: @cbrownsports
Tags butler athletics, Butler women's basketball


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Cory Burke's brace sends Philadelphia Union to U.S. Open Cup final over Chicago Fire
CHESTER, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union are headed to their third U.S. Open Cup final in five years. Jim Curtin's men knocked...
U.S. Open Cup replay: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m. ET
Major League Soccer teams continue U.S. Open Cup play this week in the semifinals. Watch the Philadelphia Union take on the...
MLS Power Rankings Week 23: Surging Seattle Sounders FC storm into top 10
While Atlanta United maintained their top spot, there was some movement, subtle and otherwise, in the Pro Soccer USA Power Rankings...
Chicago Fire terminate Rafael Ramos' contract, freeing him to sign with FC Twente
Rafael Ramos' short, uneventful tenure with the Chicago Fire has come to an end. The Fire and the Portuguese right back...
By Dan Santaromita
Kreilach scores twice in Real Salt Lake's 2-1 win over Chicago Fire
SANDY, Utah — While it's not quite yet desperation time for Real Salt Lake, playing with a sense of urgency surely...
By Kimberly Brenneisen, Pro Soccer USA
How to watch MLS on TV, live stream Week 23
MLS Power Rankings Week 22: Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew SC moving on up
The MLS All-Star Game is in the rear-view window and the focus is on Week 23 of the regular season. But...
Greg Vanney's half-time switch inspires Toronto FC's win over Chicago Fire
TORONTO — Sebastian Giovinco was closer to getting a red card than he was to scoring in the first half of...
By Oliver Platt, Pro Soccer USA
Toronto FC beats Chicago Fire again to pull within six points of playoffs
TORONTO — Toronto FC is back in the hunt. Jozy Altidore scored the Reds' first and Jonathan Osorio and Sebastian Giovinco...
Toronto FC looks to continue win streak in 'peculiar' back-to-back with Chicago Fire
TORONTO — Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire have seen a lot of each other of late. The Reds host the...
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